Pneumatic cushion



INVENTOR v A'I TORNEYS J. T. YOUNG PNEUMATIC CUSHION Filed April 25, 1951 IT:- R'

April 14, 1953 v Patented Apr. 14, 1953 PNEUMATIC CUSHION Joseph T. Young, Moline, Ill., assignor of one-half to Carl H. Wilson, Moline, Ill.

Application April 25, 1951, Serial No. 222,753

2 Claims. (01. 155-179) This invention relates to a pneumatic cushion.

An object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic unit which can be used in series or a group for producing a pneumatic cushion which will retain its normal shape and may be distorted by application of a weight thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cylindrical r tubular member which is formed out of rubber and provided with closed ends of globular shape. The tubular member is encased in a fabric sleeve which terminates inwardly from the globular ends. The fabric Sleeve prevents bulging of the tubular member under air pressure but permits compressing of the tubular member while the uncovered ends of the tubular member permit endwise expansion of the tubular member under pressure between the ends of the member.

In one use of this invention, as shown in the drawing, a group of these units are disposed in side-by-side relation in a covering to form a seat cushion.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more par ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation partly broken away and in section of a pneumatic cushion unit constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation of the inner expansible member incorporated in the unit.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation partly broken away and in section of a seat cushion having a group of pneumatic units encased therein constructed according to this invention.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 19 designates a cylindrical or tubular member which is preferably formed out of rubber. The cylindrical member I!) is provided at one end thereof with a globular end wall H and is provided at the opposite end thereof with a similar globular end wall I 2. An air valve I3 is carried by the end wall 12 and provides a means whereby the rubber member comprising the cylindrical body I0 and the end walls H and I2 may be inflated to the desired degree.

A cylindrical sleeve I4 is disposed about the cylindrical member 19 and is preferably formed of non-expansible fabric so that the encased tubular member I!) when fully inflated will be maintained in cylindrical form. The fabric It provides a means whereby the cylindrical member ID will not become distorted under inflation, and the uncovered end walls 1 l and I2 will permit the endwise distortion of the closed rubber um't embodying the walls l0, [Land l2.

In the event the encased unit is partly compressed within the area of the fabric M the end walls H and 12 may be distorted or bulged outwardly so that there may be a substantial contraction of the cylindrical member Ill and the fabric casing l i.

The pneumatic unit shown in Figures 1 and 2 and designated generally at l5 may form the basis for a seat cushion as shown in Figure 4. A series or group of pneumatic units l5 are adapted to be disposed in side by side relation, and these units are then encased or covered in a fabric or flexible covering l6. Preferably when the units l5 are disposed in an encased group as shown in Figure 4 the fabric sleeve 14 and the rubber cylinder It will be partially distorted so as to assume the configuration of a square with rounded corners.

Where the pneumatic units l5 are disposed in side by side relation in a group to form a cushion the ends of each unit are substantially loosely positioned 0r encased within the covering [6 so that the uncovered ends of each unit may readily expand or distort outwardly or endwise when a Weight is applied to the top of the seat cushion.

It will, of course, be understood that the pneumatic unit hereinbefore described may be used in various organizations, and the showing of a group of these units encased in a covering to form a seat cushion is only one example of a use to which this pneumatic unit may be put.

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic cushion unit comprising a cylindrical rubber body, hemispherical rubber end walls formed integral with said body, a nonexpansible tubular flexible fabric sleeve about said body, said sleeve terminating inwardly of the juncture of said end walls with said body to restrict expansion of said body, and an air valve carried by one of said end walls.

2. A pneumatic cushion unit comprising a cylindrical rubber body, globular end walls formed integral with said body, an air valve carried by one of said end walls, and a fabric sleeve fixed about said body and terminating inwardly of said end walls.

JOSEPH T. YOUNG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 647,374 Brendel Apr. 10, 1900 1,361,453 Frey Dec. 7, 1920 1,446,290 Dessau Feb. 20, 1923 1,456,207 Adamski May 22, 1923 1,569,937 La Turner Jan. 19, 1926 1,733,034 Tufenkjian Oct. 22, 1929 2,253,801 Neal Aug. 26, 1941 

